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5 Jets points as they prep for Falcons: Can they bounce back?

The Jets are coming off one of their worst losses in recent memory. But they have a big chance to get back on track against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Here are the five biggest storylines as the

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5 Jets points as they prep for Falcons: Can they bounce back?

Andy Vasquez, @andy_vasquez
Published 8:38 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2017

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Jets running back Matt Forte talks about getting fellow running back Bilal Powell back for Sunday's game at Miami, and the offense in general. Forte spoke on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, after Jets practice in Florham Park.
Andy Vasquez/NorthJersey.com

New York Jets center Wesley Johnson (76) and offensive guard Brian Winters (67), listens to running back Matt Forte (22) on the sidelines,during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla.(Photo: Lynne Sladky, AP)

The Jets are coming off one of their worst losses in recent memory. But they have a big chance to get back on track against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Here are the five biggest storylines as the Jets head into the midway point of the season.

How do they respond?

Losses don’t get much more painful than the one the Jets suffered on Sunday. With 12 minutes remaining they were dominating the Dolphins, and on their way to a 4-3 record and into the thick of the AFC playoff race. And then they completely collapsed, handing a win to the Dolphins.

This is the kind of loss that can shatter a team’s confidence, the kind of loss that can lead to finger pointing and locker room meltdowns. In fact, when the Jets lost games like this last year, that’s exactly what happened.

But coach Todd Bowles worked hard to address the locker room chemistry in the off-season. Gone are Brandon Marshall and Sheldon Richardson, who openly feuded last year. And while there was anger in the locker room Sunday, Muhammad Wilkerson and Steve McLendon pulled the team together with a message of encouragement.

“[They] brought everybody in and said, ‘We win together and we lose together,’” Leonard Williams said. “So, the No. 1 thing we’ve got to do is stick together and stay a family. And that’s one thing I can say this team is, is a family.”

Anderson’s outburst

The Jets may be more together than last year, but there were certainly some ugly moments Sunday. None uglier than what Robby Anderson did on the final drive. The second-year receiver threw his helmet in frustration, ostensibly because quarterback Josh McCown didn’t throw the ball to him, but perhaps because it looked as if the Jets were going to lose.

Either way, it was a childish move that cost the Jets 15 yards — reducing their already-slim chances of winning after Miami’s late field goal. And Bowles rebuked Anderson for it on Monday.

Despite Skrine’s atrocious play, Bowles said he will not consider replacing him in the lineup this week. And he really doesn’t have anyone to replace Skrine with. His backup, Xavier Coleman, is unproven and was injured Sunday.

So the Jets will stick with Skrine, because they have to. He’s capable of playing well, which he proved in the Week 6 loss to the Patriots when he had an interception and his best game of the season. But if he has another game like the one against the Dolphins, it would put Bowles and GM Mike Maccaganan in a tough spot.

Offensive inconsistency

The Jets’ offense has been better than expected. But Sunday’s loss marked the second straight game in which the offense went into hibernation after the Jets built a 14-point lead. In Week 6 against the Patriots, the lull came in the first half when the Jets went three-and-out on three consecutive drives, letting the Patriots back into the game. Against the Dolphins, the Jets probably could have salted the game away in the fourth quarter with a few first downs. Instead, they had minus-4 yards as an offense in the first quarter and notched only one first down.

Penalties hurt the Jets in both situations. But the offense can’t be boom or bust. There must be some consistency if this team is going to find any success this season.

They still have a chance to matter

Yes, the loss to Miami was crippling and painful. But that’s just because the Jets have vastly exceeded expectations this year. And they’re still in position to make some noise. If the Jets can beat the Falcons at home this weekend — and the Falcons have been beatable this season — they’ll be 4-4 at the midway point of the season and on the fringe of playoff contention. And they’d have two more winnable games before the bye (home against Buffalo on Thursday, Nov. 2, and at Tampa Bay on Nov. 12) to pull themselves into the thick of things.

But if they lose to the Falcons, it’ll be three straight losses and the 3-5 Jets will be well on their way to irrelevancy. Their three wins are already too many to give them a realistic chance at the No. 1 overall pick, and they play too hard to lose out and get a super-high draft pick. So can the Jets keep it interesting? Can they continue to matter? We’re about to find out.

Jamal Adams of the Jets gets called for pass interference for this play preventing Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots from making a catch in the end zone. The Patriots scored on the next play.
Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com

Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the Jets seemingly scores on this play as he stiff arms Duron Harmon of the Patriots. The officials ruled Jenkins fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone giving the ball to the Patriots.
Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com

Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the Jets seemingly scored on this play. After video replay the officials ruled Jenkins fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone giving the ball to the Patriots.
Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com

Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the Jets seemingly scored on this play. After video replay the officials ruled Jenkins fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone giving the ball to the Patriots.
Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com

Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the Jets seemingly scored on this play. After video replay the officials ruled Jenkins fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone giving the ball to the Patriots.
Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com